Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-07-20

mates from childhood, went together
TO school taught by the ancient. maiden
lady at Stanberry Center; hunted in
company on holidays for flowers or
nuts. as the season might be; and
once, when Mercy, missing her foot
ing. fell into the river, Asher, then but
/ a boy, plunged in and saved her at the
risk of his own life; all of which
seemed to bind their friendship the
| firmer.
"But, by and by, Mercy began TO
grow from child into tall, slender
girl, and then was sent away to school
at Boston, while Asher remained at
home TO fit himself for college under
the tutorship of the Stanberry min
lister. And every time she returned,
1t seemed TO Asher that she was fairer
and more stately than before, and "a
strange shyness and reserve took the
place Of the old frank comradeship, as
he realized that his affection for the
child had changed into a love for the
woman Mercy. And as for Mercy,
when Asher, grown so tall and manly,
dotted his hat to her with old-fash-
Toned ceremony. the color would flush
her checks II deeper pink; and as she
courtesied demurely in return, it was
with a futtcring of her heart against
its satin stomacher, while their talk
changed from its former freedom and
gayety, to such formal topics as had he
heard whether ship had lately
arrived at Boston from EnglandP
or how did she enjoy the poems OF
Mistress Anne Dudly, the tenth muse
which he had lent herp have seen a
miniature of Mercy Cuthbertson,
painted at the age when Asher Brad
shaw was worshipping her afar Off A
delicate, high-bre face, set with cer-
tain proud poisc on her slender neck,
a dimpled, dne-curved mouth, soft
dark eyes, and fringe of loose curls
falling about the broad, white forehead.
A picture that proved Asher did not
need to regard her with partial eyes to
call her beautiful Of course, though
Stanberry was but a small place, it was
not without its mild festivities. High
teas in the low, Colonial parlors; and
now and then a country ball where the
beaux in queues, ruffles and small
clothes, and the bellies in powdered
hair and stiff brocades, danced the
stately minuet, and where need
hardly say Mercy Cuthbertson, who
smiled impartially on all, to the despair
of Asher, was never in want Of a
partner.
"But another and more absorbing
subject than poetry and IN erry-making
began to fill the public mind; the first
low but portenteous murmur Of the
storm so soon to burst, and companies
Sons of Liberty began to be formed,
and such words rs taxation equal
rights and freedom began to be often
on mems lips. And as the agitation
increased and deepened, and lines of
| feeling became more defined, many an
intimacy was sundcred. and friendship
alienated, and affection quenched, as
neighbors found themselves on oppo-
the same household at variance on the
great question. Stanberry was no ex-
ception to this rule, for Major Cuth-
| bertson had been an officer in the Kings
army, and counted disloyality to his
Sovereign as almost sin against high
Heaven; and Squire Bradshaw held
with equal tonacity, that to stand for
the defense of the Colonies was the
supreme duty of Il patriot; while
Asher. when the alarm sounded from
Concord, FASTENED to don the Cont
mental uniform, and gather his fellow
townsmen into a company.
During these stirring events he had
seen but little of Mercy; but the separ-
alton only made her the dearer. and he
felt that he could not go out to danger,
and it might be to death, without
speaking the words of which his heart
was full. So, one May evening he
walked up to the door of the red brick
house, between the bordering rows of
prim, then starry with the white Bios
SONS, and lifted the carved brass
knocker OH the great door, and was
shown through the long hall wains-
coted in oak, and with floor and stairs
waxed and polished to almost marble
like smoothncss and brilliancy, into the
parlor where Mercy Cuthbertson. in a
pale blue lustering, sat ut her spinnet.
And so, with the scent of prim and Ii
lac coming i'm at the window, and the
portraits of the proud old Cuthbert-
sons looking coldly down on him from
the walls, Asher Bradshaw told his
love.
"And, as Mercy Cuthbertson listened.
the blush that had shown itself at first
died away, while light kindled in her
dark eyes, and when he finished she
drew herself up to her full height, as
stately as queen, and there was thrill
in her tone that might have been Of pain
had not the II dignation been stronger
as she answered. Sir, have no love
to give man who is disloyal to his
country, and I count it an insult TO be
wooed by one who is n traitor TO his
King and she glanced at Asher's Con-
tincntal uniform, as he stood before
her. tall and handsome, every inch a
a soldier and a true gentleman.
"'But, Mistress Mercy, he began,
but she interrupted him:
1t is useless for us to discuss this
matter further. whatever my answer
might have been once, have but one
decision now
Then, Mistress Mercy, said Asher,
gently and gravely; Il have only this
to say, that such is my great love for
you, II you will not be my wife, none
other ever shall be; and if you should
haply ever change your mind Gas l
pray you may), remember I shall al
ways be waiting; and whatever your
mind may be, remember that while
live you always have friend and pro-
tector in Asher Bradshaw And, lift
ing to his lips the fine white hand he
had taken in his cold and franklin m